The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1887-02-12
You mean that God will show us the

| comfort in the old thoughts which We dc
not find in the new. That, at least, is my
experience" said the Colonel, smiling.
Have lectured you enough
"You have not lectured me at all; or il
! that is lecturing should like TO be lectured
very often" said Lefty.
"Why, so you may, answered the Colonel,
| looking with an interest that grew deeper
every moment at the sweet blue ewes up
/ lifted to his.
! And then they talked of other and less
serious matters, till the happy drive was
| over, when Milly and Lefty, worn ont but
| cheerful, bade their elders good night, and
| went OFF to the bright room in one of the
| turrets OF the castle, which they shared to-
| gether.
For several hours of that evening Lady
Flora Winstanley and Colonel Lyndon sat
together, deep in talk, on the terrace that
overlooked the moorland and the hills. Mr..
Winstanley had gone off with his son to
Edinburgh, and they hal the house to them
selves. Though the Colonel was almost
feverishly anxious to hear the story which
had been promised to him earlier, he man
aged TO listen with patience while Lady Flora
no little uplifted by the curious series of
accidents that had brought heI son and one
of the richest women in England together,
poured ont her condolences. She thought
a common error; We are too fond of fan
cying ourselves specially favored by Prov
idence) that condolences of so significant
a character pointed plainly to happy ter
mination of her brilliant scheme. 1T is
SO evident, she said, that Percy was new
ct born 70 be poor man. | have said so
from the beginning. But did not think
he would actually fall in love with rich
woman. He IS in love-"
Il am sure he is, returned the compla-
cent Colonel. 1T was a case of love at first
sight on his part. If Miss Browne had
nothing il would be just the same. l be-
lieve il is only her money that has prevent
ed him from throwing himself at her feet
already"
Poor boy How like him, "murmured
the prold mother. He was always disin-
terested from a child. But you must talk
him out OF his little shyness, Colonel Lyn-
don. | am rather afraid of saying too much
myself. II is a delicate matter. But it
would be thousand pities if they We're
kept apart BY any foolish over sensitiveness
on his side. | am certain she admires
him.
They seem to get on very we'll together"
said the Colonel.
ooh, yes: and then, how much she likes
rs all, even in you. Colonel Lyndon" said
Lady Flora, with a smile. Il told her what
q friend You had been to Percy, and she
would have your whole history; who you
were. and where You came from, and all
about High G life, and your life in the
army. 1t was really amusing"
Very amusingw echoed the Colonel,
absently 1t is TO be feared that he scarcely
SO much as heard what Lady Flora said.
He was thinking of Lefty Morrison, to
whom, by an adroit reminder of the prom
Use made to him earlier in the day, he pres
emily brought round the conversation.
All" said Lady Flora amiably. Lefty
i promised 10 tell you her story-a sim
pie story, Colonel Lyndon; but / think it
viii interest you. 1t is-let me see-how
long ago? Lefty is nineteen now, she was
six then-thirteen years since | saw her
first. How the time flies! 1t seems almost
incredible. was giving dinner party in
our London house, and one of my guests
was well-known physician. AS | was
leaving the table with the ladies, was told
that messenger had come for him; this
annoyed me a little, for the doctor was my
liveliest guest, and | had been relying upon
him for after dinner. / went out to ques-
ton the messenger, and find out If any
thing serious was wrong. She was brought
to me in the hall, and / shall never forget
what felt when | saw her-a child, mere
baby, with tiny white face set like a wom-
ans, and large blue eyes brlpful of tears.
The poor little thing was trembling; l sup
pose the lights, and the servants, and my
fine evening dress alarmed her. / spoke to
her kindly, and then she burst into tears. l
took her up in my arms, and held her close
to me until the doctor came out and went
of with her to her father, who, she said
was worse.
The child was Lefty Morrison, and that
was the beginning of my interest in her.
l asked about her the next day, and herd
a very sad story. Her mother was dead,
and her father, who had made little sue
cess in literature during her lifetime, had
taken some kind of wrong turn. Either his
intellect, or his imagination, OF his will
had failed him. His short success was fol-
lowed by continual failure. He was dying
of poverty. care, and bitter disappoint-
ment.
AS it happened, my heart was very soft
at that time. A few months before, my
whole nursery-two dear little boys and a
baby 9irl-had been swept away by scarlet
fever. Alilly was not born, and Percy and
my eldest girl were at school. And so it
came about that began to take an interest
in poor little Lefty. the baby messenger,
who, for her fathers sake. had braved the
fine people and the fine house on the night
he was taken wore
81 visited poor Morrison, and before he
died / promised to befriend Lefty, and not
lose sight of her until she was of age to
look after herself. When he died / took
her into my house, and as soon as thought
her old enough sent her to school. There,
a,Atf For hnl fvrsn CHI hos
NAMED ever since 1t was always nv idea
that she should be Milv's governess, and
that is one reason why did not have her
here oftener. We thought she would take
up her position better if she came to it as a
comparative stranger"
She paused, and the Colonel, who had
been listening with the deepest attention,
said, in a moved voice:
You have been very good and generous
Lady Flora, and now you are reaping your
reward"
"Oh, yes, | am satisfied; for Milly, that
is to say. She has never been so happy as
she is now; but sometimes, l confess. /
feel troubled about Lettys future. Milly
will not want II governess always"
Miss Morrison may have home of her
own some day, said the Colonel.
"She may marry, You meanl That is
possible. and | intend, of course, to give
her every advantage. But what chance
has a girl in her position? She is pretty
oh, yes, | grant you that. But think of
her poycrty-her friendliness, II any of
the young men who come visiting here
were 10 fall in love with her. and want to
marry her, there would be a fine outcry. Ny
dear Colonel, | am sorry TO seem cynical in
your eyes, but. unfortunately, | know what
the world is; besides, the poor child her
self Is SO sensitiye-so clinging. Unless
She WAS loved for herself, and received in a
friendly manner by the family Of the man
who loved her, she would be wretched.
am afraid you will think me sentimental
about Lefty, said the artful lady, with a
smile.
oh. no, no: | understand how you feel;
your feelings do You honor" said Colonel
Lyndon.
And perhaps, returned Lady Flora,
who had been thinking with little re
morse of the incident of the morning, Won
will understand also HAT one must not let
her be too sensitive. Hardness is neces-
sary sometimes"
Not if the Colonel stopped abrupt-
ly. Il was coina . say something foolish, {"
he said, with an awkward laugh